Prepare for a return to retro fun in July with the second annual Pintastic Pinball Expo. A cornucopia of light and sound, Pintastic Pinball is an old-school gamer’s dream come true – minus all the quarters.

With more than 200 pinball machines on hand, Pintastic Pinball invites people of all ages to come and experience the unique joy of dropping the ball and hitting the levers. With a one-day pass or a three-day “super pass,” you can play all you want and not have to worry about running out of change. To add to the fun, there will also be 40 arcade machines to complete the authentic feel.

While a show that focuses on pinball may seem like a left-field outing to some, pinball is actually quite popular across the country, according to Pintastic Pinball founder Gabriel D’Annunzio. D’Annunzio said that pinball expos in California, Texas and Chicago draw about 5,000 to 10,000 people over a three-day weekend. Tired of travelling to Pennsylvania to attend the closest event every year, D’Annunzio decided to become a pinball wizard and bring some of that magic to New England.

“In New England, there is a very strong collector community – somewhere around 500 people strong,” said D’Annunzio. “We have all wanted a show of our own for many years, and that is why Pintastic was born. I also wanted to raise awareness of the pinball hobby to the general public and show them that pinball is still alive and growing.”

D’Annunzio will bring selections from his own 14-year-old pinball machine collection to the expo, including his personal favorite, Wizard of Oz.

For hardcore pinheads, there will be guest speakers and seminars, including “pinball designers, programmers, artists and historians.” A vendor hall will also be a part of the show, offering all kinds of trinkets and tools to purchase for your own pinball machine.

But Pintastic Pinball Expo isn’t only for collectors and hobbyists. Not only will there be game tournaments for children and adults, ranging from beginners to pros, you can also expect to see a bounce house, magicians and other festive staples for budding pinheads. It’s the perfect way to pass down the pinball love from one generation to the next.

D’Annunzio hopes his event will do just that and also bring attention back to pinballing. He emphasized that modern-day games on next-gen consoles don’t embody the same excitement or thrills as pinball machines. There’s just something special about the game itself, D’Annunzio said.

“Playing a game on a TV screen is nothing like playing an actual pinball machine,” added D’Annunzio. “It’s you against the ball. (It’s) so random, and no two games you play on any given machine will ever be the same.”

The Pintastic Pinball Expo will be July 7- 9 at the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center on Route 20. One-day passes are $15 for Thursday and $20 on Friday and Saturday, and three-day passes are $85.

By Jason Savio • Photo By Gabriel D’Annunzio